A 26-year-old man who sold cocaine to an undercover Mountie in Norman Wells received a six-month sentence in NWT Supreme Court Wednesday.

Dillion McGregor, who pleaded guilty to one count of trafficking cocaine, faced 12 months, the starting point or SA国际影视传媒渞ule of thumbSA国际影视传媒� for street-level trafficking, but saw the standard sentence halved by Justice Andrew Mahar, who considered McGregorSA国际影视传媒檚 difficult background along with his post-offence commitment to turning his life around.

Following the launch of Project Gate Crash, an investigation into drug trafficking in the town of Norman Wells, Mounties called a phone number associated with suspected drug trafficking on June 21, 2016. An undercover officer arranged to buy cocaine and was met by two people in a truck outside of the Heritage Hotel.

McGregor, who was in the front passenger seat, placed a bag on cocaine on the truckSA国际影视传媒檚 center console, which was picked up by the officer. The driver, Chelsea Bjornson, picked up $180 left by the member.

In mid-November, Bjornson, 25, received a 6-month sentence after pleading guilty to a lone count of trafficking cocaine.

A day after the first undercover buy, the Mountie texted the same number and met McGregor again, purchasing another $180 worth of cocaine.

Prosecutor Blair MacPherson called for a typical sentence of 10 to 12 months given the type of offence, but admitted the case was SA国际影视传媒渄ifficultSA国际影视传媒� from the CrownSA国际影视传媒檚 perspective.

MacPherson said McGregor was in a SA国际影视传媒渧ery difficult situation,SA国际影视传媒� at the time of the offence, one that was hard, if not impossible, to get out of. MacPherson said the offender was caught up in drug crime through a negative peer group.

McGregor sold to support his own drinking and drug use, said MacPherson.

While MacPherson noted the mitigating factors associated with McGregorSA国际影视传媒檚 offence, he said there is a Parliament-imposed legal framework that must be upheld.

MacPherson said the devastating impacts of cocaine on families and vulnerable people in Northern communities is so well documented that itSA国际影视传媒檚 SA国际影视传媒渁lmost trite,SA国际影视传媒� to offer a recitation of them. But itSA国际影视传媒檚 worth saying, he said, and the court canSA国际影视传媒檛 lose sight of that, adding the sentence is also about sending a message to the community.

McGregorSA国际影视传媒檚 lawyer, Peter Harte, highlighted the steps his client took after being arrested and charged.

McGregor completed a year-long treatment program, an accomplishment both Justice Mahar and Harte, said they rarely see before the courts.

When Bjornson received half of the starting point sentence for trafficking cocaine, the sentencing judge, Justice Louise Charbonneau called the sentence SA国际影视传媒渆xtremely lenient,SA国际影视传媒� but warranted due to her circumstances.

Bjornson became a mother following her arrest.

On Wednesday, after mulling his decision, Mahar settled on a six-month sentence - the lowest the court can go - given the SA国际影视传媒渆xtraordinarySA国际影视传媒� mitigating factors, namely McGregorSA国际影视传媒檚 rarely-seen commitment to rehabilitation.

SA国际影视传媒淚f any offender has ever given me reason to go lower than starting point, itSA国际影视传媒檚 Mr. McGregor,SA国际影视传媒� said Mahar.

McGregor must submit a sample of his DNA and cannot possess firearms for 10 years after his release. He will be recommended for early release pending employment prospects.